Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Spirit Awakening Method
Under the setting sun, some shadows of the trees stretched extremely long.
In the jungle, there was already a roar of beasts, not weaker in sound.
A river coursed through from the great mountains, its end unseen.
On both sides of the riverbank, there were some uniquely characteristic black flowers.
These black flowers were not considered spirit medicine, but merely because they were in the spiritual energy-rich mountains and near this river, they absorbed some spiritual energy.
A Jade Ring Rat crawled out of the spirit flowers, and on its body, some Snake Scent Powder was scattered.
The ears of the Jade Ring Rat flapped as if trying to fan away the unpleasant odor.
After flapping for a while, it grabbed two Spirit Cultivation Pills the size of longan and started gnawing on them.
This was the first time the Jade Ring Rat ate spirit cultivation pills, its whole body shrouded in a cyan glow, making its large buck teeth and ears appear more lively.
Its aura had slight changes.
The next moment, the river began to surge, as if sensing something, the Jade Ring Rat raised its head, its pair of keen eyes glaring around.
Its ears continuously flapped.
Then it swallowed all the spirit pills in one gulp and headed towards the black flowers.
The next moment, with a splash, from within the river, a huge Black Water Python shot out, chasing after the Jade Ring Rat.
Its speed was incredibly fast, with even colder intent in its eyes.
It had encountered too many such fleeing prey.
Moreover, it preferred those which knew to escape.
Only to be met with a turtle shell suddenly rising.
A beam of cyan mirror light shone upon the pitch-black snakehead of the Black Water Python.
The eyes of the Black Water Python instantly reflected the cyan mirror light, which was a Tier Two early stage demon beast, extremely alert!
Yet it was still too late, its body instantly stiffened when struck, so massive an inertia had combined its serpentine body together.
Meanwhile, a Red Spear magical artifact shot out, aiming for the seven-inch point of the Black Water Python.
However, the Tier Two Black Water Python was obviously not so easily restrained, the black spirit pattern on its body turned into black water, eerily flowing forward, slipping away from the cyan light’s radiance.
At the same time, its mouth opened wide, shooting a black waterball that impacted upon the Red Spear, knocking it away.
Once the Red Spear was knocked aside, a chillingly large snake tooth emerged, spewing venomous saliva, lunging towards Ye Jingcheng, who had released the Cyan Light Mirror and Red Spear.
This time, it was Ye Jingcheng and Ye Jingyu who were in ambush here, over a month since Ye Jingyu’s breakthrough moment.
Ye Jingcheng was about to leave, and this time they specifically captured a Tier Two spirit snake, likely to have an inner core for the Jade Qilin Snake.
This Tier Two spirit snake was at the early stage, the two borrowed Tier Two spiritual artifacts from Ye Xuefu and Ye Xueliang, lying in ambush here.
After failing to attract the Tier Two Black Water Python using an ordinary antelope, they had the Jade Ring Rat scatter some Snake Scent Powder.
This Snake Scent Powder, unlike the Tier Two Snake Scent Pill, attracted a spirit snake that was likely a Tier One or Tier Two spirit snake.
Not too terrifying, and given that they had Hidden Spirit Armor and Turtle Breath Concealing Qi Technique, even a Tier Two late-stage demon beast might not notice them if they stayed still.
This time, they managed to conduct a successful sneak attack.
However, the Black Water Python was slippery and highly vigilant.
Even while focused on the Jade Ring Rat, it swiftly reacted in no time.
Yet, the two’s tactics did not end there.
Ye Jingyu waved his hands, sending out Array Banners, and the Tier Two Array around them appeared, named the Celestial Withering Fire Array, which restrained the Black Water Python.
As the crimson glow appeared, it seemed as if earth-fire crevices emerged beneath, with crimson snakes permeating through the air, charging toward the Black Water Python under Ye Jingyu’s control!
This made the Black Water Python extremely furious, under the array, the black patterns on its python hide twisted somewhat.
At this moment, Ye Jingcheng clapped his storage bag once again, producing a Shocking God Drum.
Though the Shocking God Drum was merely a Tier One top-grade spiritual artifact, it was highly effective against demon beasts with insufficient spiritual wisdom and those unacquainted with the drum.
With the pounding of the Shocking God Drum.
Layers of light ripples appeared instantly, sweeping toward the Black Water Python!
Roar!
The Black Water Python roared madly, spewing waterballs haphazardly, their impact incredibly powerful, not losing to rocks.
Causing Ye Jingcheng and his partner to struggle somewhat in defense.
But in the interval, the Red Flame Fox beside them suddenly transformed into two.
Making it impossible for the Black Water Python to discern which was real.
While Ye Jingyu unleashed the Tier Two Spotted Cloud Tiger.
In an instant, it charged towards the Black Water Python!
The Red Flame Fox had not yet arrived, but two massive fireballs floated from its tail, with the spiritual fire on its forehead blazing high.
Bang!
Four fireballs shot towards the Black Water Python from behind the two Red Flame Foxes.
The Black Water Python let out a hoarse, exhausted roar.
Its entire body flickered with a dim glow.
Its tail lashed out, shattering two of the fireballs, but those two massive fireballs were merely phantoms.
Already bewildered by the Shocking God Drum, it remained somewhat dazed, ultimately hit by the two fireballs, resulting in bloody, charred wounds.
Then the Spotted Cloud Tiger lunged from the side, delivering a paw to the seven-inch point of the Black Water Python, splitting it in two.
The Tier Two Black Water Python was dead!
Ye Jingcheng took the Tier Two Black Water Python, and used the Golden Shadow Sword to slice off two large pieces of meat, which he threw to the Spotted Cloud Tiger and Red Flame Fox.
As per custom, he allowed both of them to have a hearty meal.
Then he pried open the head of the Black Water Python, and inside was an Inner Core.
Ye Jingcheng took out a pre-prepared Jade Box, placed the Inner Core inside, covered it with a Spirit Talisman, and then stored it in his Storage Bag.
While Ye Jingcheng was collecting the Spirit Beast, on the other side, Ye Jingyu was also gathering the Array.
This Array Disc was borrowed and naturally had to be returned intact.
Ye Jingcheng called back the Jade Ring Rat, whose ears were currently twitching at a high frequency. Ye Jingcheng fed it another piece of Demon Beast Meat before placing it into the Spirit Beast Bag.
However, its meat was just venison from an antelope.
In Ye Jingcheng’s view, feeding the current Jade Ring Rat the meat of a Tier Two Spirit Beast seemed extravagant.
After tidying up, the two activated the Turtle Breath Concealing Qi Technique and ventured into the forest together.
Everything happened very quickly.
"Thank you, Fourth Brother!" They returned to Sha Yun Mountain, and it was already nighttime.
The sky was filled with stars, and the wilderness appeared exceptionally vast.
In the distance, the roars of beasts were not weak, as most predators in the Taihang Mountain Range hunt in the evening when prey let down their guard.
Not to mention, quite a lot of Demon Beasts forage at dusk.
"It’s just a small matter. In the future, I’ll rely on you, an Alchemy Master!" Ye Jingyu also spoke.
During this one month in the mountains, Ye Jingcheng had finally refined his first Tier Two Spirit Pill, the Tier Two Fire Heart Pill.
This Fire Heart Pill was used by Fire Attribute Foundation Establishment Cultivators to boost their Cultivation.
The study of Alchemy was approaching its end, also signaling their return to Lingyun Peak was drawing closer.
This prompted the two to decide on hunting a Tier Two Demon Beast.
Compared to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, those Tier Two Demon Beasts are easier to deal with if you prepare and wait in ambush.
After all, the scariest part about a Cultivator is their unpredictable trump cards and cunning strategies.
But Demon Beasts are straightforward, their strength often evident in their physical bodies.
Overall, it was without great risk.
They not only acquired the huge body of a Tier Two Black Water Python but also a Tier Two Inner Core.
Demon Beast Inner Cores are rare; this Black Water Python was deemed most likely to possess an Inner Core after Ye Xuefu observed it with a Black Armored Scorpion for a long time.
"Fourth Brother, the Black Water Python’s hide is good. I’ll skin it for you later!"
"Jingcheng, keep it for yourself. You still don’t have a Tier Two Magical Artifact!" Ye Jingyu shook his head.
Being Ye Xingliu’s son, he naturally already had a Tier Two Magical Artifact.
Even though Ye Jingcheng was highly valued by Ye Xuefu, the latter didn’t have a suitable Tier Two Magical Artifact for him at the moment. Even if he had one, Ye Jingcheng couldn’t take it.
Having one more Tier Two Magical Artifact would increase Ye Xuefu’s odds of success within the Taihang Mountain Range.
"Fourth Brother, if you say that, then I won’t dare ask for your help in the future!" Ye Jingcheng shook his head.
"The Inner Core and python meat are much more valuable than the python skin!" Ye Jingcheng added. Only then did Ye Jingyu nod.
"Let’s return the Magical Artifacts and Array Banners first!" Ye Jingcheng and Ye Jingyu exchanged glances and walked towards the cave dwelling.
Soon, they saw Ye Xuefu and Ye Xueliang, along with Ye Xingyu, gathered once more.
On the table, there was Spiritual Cuisine, but no Spirit Wine, only Spirit Tea.
After today, they would part ways, marking this as a farewell gathering.
"Fifteenth Uncle, here is your Red Feather Spear!" Ye Jingcheng returned the Red Spear to Ye Xueliang, while Ye Jingyu returned the Array to Ye Xuefu.
"Sit down, and savor the Ancestor’s craftsmanship one last time!" Ye Xuefu invited them to sit.
Unlike his usual generosity, this time Ye Jingcheng and Ye Jingyu felt a bit more reserved.
After more than a year, the two had reached thirty-eight, and Ye Jingyu had turned forty-three.
"Try this wild Spirit Tea from the mountains. It doesn’t have a name yet!" Ye Xuefu introduced.
Ye Jingcheng watched with great anticipation.
It was his first time tasting this Spirit Tea.
As they were about to leave, drinking Spirit Wine clearly wasn’t suitable; they were in Taihang Mountain Range.
This tea was unlike the emerald-like Spring Tea, being rather pale as clear water.
Once drunk, it produced an equally mild flavor, with only a lingering faint tea fragrance that long persisted in their hearts.
"Why not give it a name?" Ye Jingcheng asked first.
"The tea is nameless!" Ye Xuefu replied.
"It’s nameless before, nameless now, and will remain nameless in the future!"
"Unlike Demon Beasts, the human heart is even harder to fathom. You two have grown into key elites of the family. In actions, you can be indifferent to fame and wealth, but internally, you must not falter, and be ruthless when necessary!" Ye Xuefu instructed in the end.
Ye Jingcheng and Ye Jingyu both nodded firmly, stood up, raised their teacups, and drank it all in one go as a substitute for wine.
A long breath emerged from their hearts!
It was filled with the fragrance of tea.
"Keep this Jade Talisman, and I hope that next time I see you, you will have already been able to refine Tier Two Middle Grade Elixirs with Pill Fragrance!"
As the Spiritual Cuisine was finishing, Ye Xuefu handed Ye Jingcheng a Jade Talisman.
Ye Jingcheng accepted the Jade Talisman, and his Divine Sense penetrated it, revealing the bold characters of "Spirit Awakening Method"!
This was not documented in the Ye Family’s Alchemy records.
And it was also why Ye Xuefu believed that Elixirs without Pill Fragrance were not truly finished Pills!